EEBC Housing and Community
“We couldn’t have done this without our voluntary organisations.”
Rod Brown, Head of Housing and Community at Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.
Rod was reflecting on his team’s role in the pandemic at a meeting with Citizens Advice on 29 March. He and Simon Coles, Housing Options Team Leader, vividly described the council’s response to fast-changing needs.
Whatever the job, willing volunteers and voluntary groups pitched in. They helped with a lockdown hub to identify up to 2000 vulnerable residents. They found accommodation for homeless people and refugees. And they’re stepping up for community development projects.
This experience has led the council to change how they see their role. They will serve all residents by focusing more on those in need, working more in partnership and prioritising health and well-being.
At Citizens Advice we totally share the approach. At the meeting, Lisa Davis, CEO, gave examples of our special projects additional to the day job (free advice for all). She spoke about improving the financial literacy of young people, helping those who find the digital world tough going, supporting residents with cost of living problems and refugees offered housing here.
Like EEBC, we’re committed to doing the best for people in our community, whoever they are, wherever they’re from.